Internal-combustion engine



June 14, 1927.

B. C. STICKNEY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 12. 1923 4Sheets-Sheet l 4 sheets-Sheet 2 B. C. STICKNEY Filed Sept. 12, 1923INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE June 14, 1927.

j I A.

6 ngwqveNToR June 14. 1927. 3 17 B. c. STICKNEY INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE A A File? Sept. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mpagsslou v EXPLOSION QxHAus Q June 14, 1927.

- 1,632,517 B c. STICKNEY INTERNAL comsusnon ENGINE Filled Sept. 12,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGIQ- l5.

June 14, i

: fA piib-ae n fiIedSe ptember 1.2;1923: serial Niifccaws.

1 This inve ntion' relates to} rotary valve mechanism {for engines moreparticularly those ofthe internalfcombust on class. i

It is sought to produce an organization which minimizes f or avoids theobj cctions 1 which are, usually inherent inrotary valves,

{including the difficulty of triction, binding and seizing- 0fthe'valve, which may befdue to the unsupported pressure at the compressionand explosion strokes, or to -unequal heating and expansion of the,valve: and the I co-operating ported devices; or; other causes.

Another 1 feature -is the provision of'inn proved means [for it quicklyopening and quickly fclo sing intakei and ezihaustports in combustionchamber an'dlvalvc chest, and to provide for amuch enlarged: capacityofthe ture of shutter comprising complementary ports" as compared. thoseusualin rotary valve engines; I

The improved rotary valve s in the naoppositely-revolving ported shellsor ele ments fitted one Within the other to form a composite shutter 1or valve which surrounds "V and 'fitsr'thelcylindrical wall 'of a portedeX- 'plosion' chamber; said compositcshutter or ing or valve chest-j thechamber" and the chest ea'ch.provided With both intake and U exhaustports; all controlledby the one composite' valve.

a The valve 1's pressure-balancedg :and for the purpose of securing suchbalance, the

intake and exhaustportsin theexplosion chamber are placedatdiametrically opposite sides thereof, sothat the outer pressure of the"gasthrough one port. uponi-the valye is balanced j by similar oppositepressure through the opposite port; this result being secured in avalve}composed of oppositelyrevolving complementary nested shells, by placingthecxhaust andintakeport's both on one siderof each shell and makingoneof the shells right and the other left; i h

has the characteris- The composite val tic of automatically expandingand contracting its intake and exhaust ports. The intake port in theexplosion chamber is opened by the expansion of the compositeintakewport in" the valve, ancl itis' closed by thecontrac tion of saidcomposite intake port; andlthe.

exhaust port; inthe vexplosion chamber is thereupon opened by the Iexpansion 'ot-..'the

exhaust port infithe composite. valve, and" eventually closed by the"contraction of sai'd composite exhaust portin the valve:

e ms $TICKNEY1 F em/ smaelamne iaf ti on. chamber 1 ports,

v- "Ijhe expansion and contraction of the.:co1nposite Y valve ports arerapid. j Mo eover; the? explosionchamberports be "made off double theangular extent'usiial infrotary valve engines. All of the advantages "ofba'l I anced pressure, rapid openingfand closing i and extraordinarycapacity L of the conihus simple organization.

are secured V by a single gether andjto the stationary ported memhere.-Since the Water flows betweenthe inner Walls of the explosion chambenand the:

composite valve, the latter is but little ex: posed to heat, and nitstemperature may therefore be kept moderate by contact with the cooledalls ofthe explosion chambe and of the valve chest. The latter-is preferWell beingformed between them'to co nsti tates.

ably integral with the chamber5 an annular in which the composite valvero- I The detachable head et the engine {Om-j prises preferably a hollowor boX-likebase forming a Wateracket, which isin communication withthe-Wateracket or jackets of the engine bloclgandv is alsoincominuni'cation through the hollow Walls-of tl'ie'ez iplo 'sionchambers wfvith thefradiator, thus" tend-J mg. to secure-uniformly lowheat of the valves and associated partsfor the various engine cylinders.tionis the use o't a single casting for the detachable engine head, therow of, valve chestsgsthe. domes Within said chest forming H A featureott he inven- 7 theexplosion chambersyand preferably also V the v nitakeand exhaust manifolds between, i which the rowot valve chests extends,each valve chest opening into both manifolds on,

its opposite sides a f- Other features and advantages will here"-"inafter appear.

; 'In'the accompanying drawings; 1 7

Figure '1" is a sectional elevation of a; valve mechanism-for aninternal coinbustionen gine embodyingl the present improvements f inoneform;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section or plan of the complementarymembers of the composite valve to illustrate the cycle of operationsthereof. I

Figure 3 is a part-sectional longitudinal elevation of the improveddetachable engine head with its appurtenances, and Figure 4 is a plan ofthe same with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a sectional diagrammatic plan,

showing in the upper row of valve chests a section taken through thefixed intake ports, and showing in the lower row a section taken throughthe fixed exhaust ports of the same chests, the same valves and the sameexplosion chambers as in the upper row. The upper row shows thepositions of the intake ports in the various complementary valve shellsat the middle portions of the strokes of their respectivepistons; andthe lower row is a similar showing regarding the exhaust ports in saidcomplementary valve shells or members.

At Figures 6 to 9 are illustrated various positions of the complementaryor interdependent inner and outer shells or members of the same valve,illustrating the expanding and contracting characteristics of the valveports, and showing how the intake and exhaust ports in the explosionchamber are kept closed by the co-operation of the oppositely-revolvingcomplementary members of the composite valve except during the intakeand explosion strokes of the piston.

Figures 10 and 11 are diagrammatic sectional plans to show lag and leadof the valve at various points.

Figures 12 and 13 correspond with Fig ures 6 and 8, but illustrate thedirection of each member of the valve as opposite from that shown inFigures 6 and 8.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the inner shell or shutter formingone of the complementary or interdependent members of the compositevalve, with one form of driving gear therefor, and Figure 15 shows asimilar view of the outer shell forming the other member of said valve.

There is illustrated a conventional engine block containing amultiplicity of vertical cylinders 20 and comprising a water-jacket 21,each cylinder containing a piston (shown diagrammatically at 22 aboveits true position, which should be midwav of its exhaust stroke). Uponthe cylinder block there may be attached, by means of bolts 23 forexample, an improved engine head 24, preferably jacketed or containing awater space 25, the latter being a box-like structure and extendingthroughout the length of the engine head and communicating by numerouspassages 26 with water spaces 27 in the engine block, so that thecooling water which is pumped into the engine block may flow up throughthe passages 26 into the engine head, and thence, in a manner presentlydescribed, back to the radiator.

Integral with the engine head 24: is a series of erect ported domes orenclosures forming combustion chambers 528, closed at their upper endsand opening at their lower ends into the respective cylinders 20, onecombustion chamber (or gas conduit) for each cylinder. These fixedcombustion chambers or devices may be of cylindrical or other suitableinterior contour, and may serve to conduct the gases into and out of theengine cylinders, and even if of very small internal diameter (ascompared with the engine cylinders) they may still have suflicientcapacity for this purpose.

Fitted around each combustion chamber are oppositely rotatingturret-like ported complementary valve portions in the form of nestedshells 29, 30. Valve shell or portion 29 fits closely to the surface ofthe outer cylindrical member or dome 32 of the combustion chamber, andvalve portion or shell 30 fits closely to the outer cylinddical surfaceof shell 29. Valve shell 30 also fits closely within a ported enclosure,housing, casing or chest 31, which may be of cylindrieal interiorcontour and of any suitable exterior form. Neither of these shells orportions by itself (as will presently he evident) serves as a completevalve, but both shells co-operate to open the explosion chamber, andalso co-operate to close the same. At two stages the intake port of theexplosion chamber is partly closed by one shell and partly closed by theother shell. This situation occurs at the beginning of the compressionstroke and at the end of the explosion stroke. The oppositely rotatingshells are therefore complementary one to the other to make a singlecomplete rotary valve which is inserted. like av shutter between theported wall of the explosion chamber and the ported wall of the valvechest. The complete valve therefore is in the nature of apressure-balanced revolving shutter fitting between the fixed portedouter and inner walls of the chest. and having automatically expandingand contracting ports for rapidly opening and rapidly closing thedouble-size or capacious inner and outer fixed ports. Owing to such portexpansion and contraction, each fixed port in chest and chamber isopened or closed at twice the angular speed of either valve shell. Thecomplementary shells therefore fitdown in a ported annular well 40,which is formed in the general casting, Figures 1 and a.

The inner wall 28 of the explosion chamber mavrise directly from thefloor plate 25 of the engine head, while the outer wall 32 may rise fromthe top plate 25 of the engine head, the spaces between said inner andijonter walls, togetherwiththe space nseam bet-ween;the lower;plate, 25?of the hollow top of tl e; flame chamberand the, upper plate 34}thereof, forming'i a waterfl course, which opens into uptake; ordischarge 35.

a, VIiiother==words,*the combustion chamber ,28"may"be formedwith a.waterejacket-25,

or, may be "double-walled and double 'topped,

forming the water spaces33, 33*, fall "of which are in opencommunication: with one another and with the main waterspace p in; theengine head; and from the :waterjacket, which includes the chest 31 Withits top 3t, there may rise thecentral discharge Tpipe 3'5, attached-atits: top by a nipple 36 to a {main 37, i or disch'ang'ingv the heatedwater*fromtheqengme into the usual radiator; (not shown), Thus the waterpassing upfrom theengineblock may flow along the engine head," and. pass1 up; through the hollowwalled combustion;chamberand es- T hence theextent: of relative expansion of the 1111161 and outer revolving shells,aswell as of the, enploslonchamber walls and the valve chest '31, beingminimized or practi-' cally eliminated, sothat liability of bindingor'jfriction of the nested; complementary valve, shells is reduced to la negligible point.

.Gne of the advantagesvof the invention,

v of portsat the points where it joins into the "as to certain of itsfeatures, is that a-single .inexpens ve' and compact castingmay '1nclndethe double-walled combustion cham; here 29, 32,25", 34:,the valve chestsor casings 31, andythe-hollow or box-likeengine head 25,v as? well as anintake manifold 38. and

anexhanst m'anifoldSS); the line of upstand-l ingvalve chests 31extending between these top 5070f the outer valve shellBO, where-bymanifolds, each ofwhichhas a multiplicity valve chests. The exhaustmanifold may be spaced from the'engine head,to favor rzidla- 'tion ofheat. -Althongh' .each combustion chamber is hollow w'alled and lienceofrelativelylarg'e "eXterior-- diameter, Eitstill may accommodate valvesoftrelativelyl small diameter, as compared wlththe engine cylinders, andthecomposite valves may turn in stationary bearings, and. may"befsimple,

light and inexpensive, and capable otbeing readily assembled anddisassembled, and'the bearings as wellias' the "valve shells themselvesmay. beclosely and smoothly fitted; Alljof the inlet and exhaust ports,of which details are presently given, may be of relatively. lar 'ecapacity, to -00, a, a I i I .Theinvention may be also practiced byreversing the flowlof water, that is, the main maycbe connected toreceive water through: the pump '(not shown)v from the I give maximumefficiency to theehglne.

lower end offtheradiator; while the bottom heat or may: be connected todischarge into'the top.

water-may be downward fromthemainB'Z,

firstrthrough-fthe valve chests "and then throughlthe cylinderblockm Bythis method bftheiradiator, so that the how of cooled the heatofthevalve chest and composite siredi'h" closelywithin the other. Certainfeatniwes of the invention maybe practiced by using forms other thancylinders for the nested valve shells surrounding the "explosion valvesmaybe ,stillgfnrth-er 'reducedlif dei chamber within, the valve chest;but, where cylinders are employed, they may'comprise p disk-like tops 47and eOi-ntegral resp-ectively with the valve shells These tops iay servetosupport the shells-and prevent the lower, gas-tight edges thereof fromwear ing away; and they may also aid in prevent:

1 The complementary V pfiair may be rotated iniopposlte dlf:

rections y means of any suitable gear train,

as, for example, by the use of a sprocket chainl, connected to the crankshatt (not shown) a of 'theengine and running over a sprocket wheel 42,which may revolve once to each revolutionof the crank shaft: '7 Thissprocket wheel maybe placed'iipon adrivling shaftxl ,working in abearing provided in an end of gearbox 62, and having a beveled pinion4A. to mesh with a beveledgear 45, the

.nigfl-lealiage, and also serveto'connect the valve shellswlthbearmgliubs of relatively 7 small diameters; V V 9 valve shells each.

latter fixednpona vertical hollowhub 46 V rising "from thestop 47 of theinner vvalve 1 shell 29, and also meshing with a vbeveled gear veElfixedupon a hub 49 rising fromthe thecomplementary shells are revolvedinop aposit-e directions simultaneously atu niform angular speed. A; drivingtrain of similar gearsel may connect all'of the hubs 46 of "tliefinner'valve shells; andga similar'train 52umayconnect allof the hubs 49 of theouterfvalve shells, so that all of the shells f may revolve constantlyat uniform speed,

those in each assemblagelrevolvlng one, op-

thecrank'shaft, and it is also obvious that ifdesired the outer shellsmay all revolve in the one direction, while the, inner shells ma allrevolve in the opposite; direction; r

The water vent which preferably sur; 1' 5 mounts-the explosionchamber-may serve (not 7 only; to-conduct the waterifro'm. the conrse' 7between the: walls: of said chamber, lbut zmay also serve as a bearing:of. relatively small diameter vfor the hubi46 r of the. inner valveshell, and thus permit the use of a hub 49 of relatively small diameterfor the outer valve shell; these hubs being adjacent to the gears, sothat operating friction may be minimized. The invention, however, is notlimited to timing gears at these points.

The inlet manifold 38 is ported at 53, and from these ports passages 54lead into the combustion chambers 28. The exhaust manifold 39 is alsoported at 55, and from these ports passages 56 lead into the combustionchambers.

The ports 54, 56 where they open into the explosion chamber or gasconduit 28 are il lustrated at lower levels than where they open intothe manifolds, these passages being inclined outwardly and upwardly.This permits the vertical capacity of the explosion chamber to bereduced, while permitting the valves to set up above spark plugs 57, andalso above the top of'the hollow engine head.

The spark plugs 57 may be of any suitable construction, and may, forexample, be inserted in sockets 58 formed in the side of the engine headbelow the intake manifold, and opening into pockets 59, of which one isprovided for each cylinder; the pockets opening into the explosionchambers 28 near their lower ends.

To close the tops of all the valve chests there may be arranged a coverplate 60, detachably secured by screws 61, this plate forming the bottomof a box 62, to contain the valve gearing. The box may have a re movablelid 63. a

The inner rotary complementary shell 29 in each valve may bepressurebalanced, that is to say, provision is made whereby outwardgas-pressure produced thereon through ports 54 and 56 at both thecompression and explosion strokes is sustained by said complementaryshell in a manner to minimize or obviate the tendency of the shell tobind or grip because of such pressure of the gas.

To this end several steps are taken, one of which is to form the inletand outlet ports or passages upon opposite sides of the gaschamber 28,as at 54, 56, so that pressure within either passage outwardly in onedirection against inner valve shell 29 is balanced by like outwardpressure in the 0pposite passage 54 or 56. Another step is to make thearea of the inlet port 54 in the explosion chamber substantially equalto the area of the outlet port 56. so that the outward pressure ateither side upon the inner valve shell balances the pressure at theother side. Another step is to divide one of the passages or ports(preferably the intake) into equal upper and lower portions 54, while atthe opposite side of the explosion chamber the passage 56 occupies amidway 130$!- tion between these intake portions 54. There is thereforelittle or no tendency to skew the inner complementary valve shell in itsbearings, or to cause it to press more at one point than at another, orto wear unevenly.

Referring to Figures 1 and 14, the inner complementary turret-valveshell 29 has upper and lower inlet ports 64 for opening and closing thefixed intake ports at 5?), 54. The valve shell 29 at its side has amidway single port 65 for opening and closing the fixed exhaust ports55, 56 of the valve chest and explosion chamber. The combined area ofvalve shell ports 64 may be approximately equal to the area of 65, toagree with the ports in the valve chest, whose position and area havejust been described; the port 65 (considered vertically) being midway01" the ports 64. The outer con'iplementary turretvalve shell 30 mayhave inlet ports 66 corresponding with 64 and a midway outlet port 67corresponding with 65.

The exhaust port is in a different zone from the upper and lower intakeports, so that no exhaust port in a composite valve can open an intakeport in the combustion chamber. Moreover, no intake port in a valve canopen an exhaust port in the combustion chamber.

The combustion chamber 28 is closed at the compression and explosionstrokes, while it is open at the exhaust and intake strokes. lVhile theintake stroke immediately follows the exhaust stroke of the engine, butfor pressure-balancing purposes, still the inlet ports in the combustionchamber are formed diametrically opposite from the combustion ports (inplace of being in juxtaposition thereto, as is the usual practice), sothat the internal pressure against one wall of said inner valve shellmay be balanced by the in ternal pressure against the opposite wallthereof. The combustion chamber is opened at one side immediatelyfollowing the explosion stroke, and at the opposite side immedi telyfollowing the exhaust stroke.

At Figure 15 a similar description applies, except that this outer shellof the composite valve turns to the left, and the arrangement of itsexhaust port is opposite from the arrangement at Figure 14. Throughoutall the valve shells each exhaust port immediately follows the intakeport as the shell is revolved. There are illustrated both right andleft-hand inner valve shells, and both right and left-hand outer valveshells; although, by using other trains of gearing, the inner shellsmay, if desired, be all right-hand and the outer shells all lefthand.

A feature of the invention is the ample capacity of the ports in thechest and explosion chamber (each port may extend about 90 degreesaround the chamber) and the great speed with which each of such ports isopened and closed. Owing to the doubled capacity of these ports, theoutward pressure ot-th exploding charge upon the inner against the innervalve shell.

"Byplacing the ports in angular ju xtapo sitionin each valve shell, Withthe exhaust port immediately following the intake port," it" followsthat at'theconclusion of the operative eXhaust-closing-fmovement of therotary shells at one side. of "the exploslon' *Chafiiber, there beginsthe co-operative intake-opening"inovenient of the ysainef at theopposite side otthe explosion chamber. {It 1 1 1119111101 the explosionchamber ports secured;- resulting in balance of gas-pressure willtherefore be seerithat oppositearrangeu-pon the inner valveshell-,wvhich therefore I" revolves freely notwithstanding its exposureto pressure through bothexhaust and intake ports'ottheexplosion chamber,these ports the drawing apart off'the vertical I valve edges as thelatter occupy positions nndway 0t {doubled area :or capacityas'coinports 1n the complementary outerand inner val'veshells completethe closing of the com pared ithusual explosionehaniber ports.

Any; explosion chand er-port lsopened by of the'lixed port openingsTThefixed port I is likewise: closed by the valve edges "ap-- proaching eachotherat the lnldCllB Q f'llh fined ports. Eachport in thecngine head maybe about 90 degrees in extentyanclt-hesame may true ofieach port ineachvalve shell. At

Figurele the valve shell'ports are illustrated 'i as each Q O-degreesinextent; and itivill'be seen that the eXhaust-port immediatelytollowsj'theintal e1por't or ports 64 around the shell 29: Inasmuch astheexhaust port 56fis diametrically oppositefrom theintake ports 54'inthe explosion "chamber 28,it follOWs that when the: followingedgesoffthe exhaust ports in the oppositely revolving valve shells 29and 30-approach andiinally' reachl the middle of theexhaus't port 56in;the explosion chamber 28 I (thereby ce-operatively "closing the same),the leading edges of the intake ports 64 and 66 -"begin to sepa f rate,and hence co-operate to'o'pen the intake ports Saintheexplosion'chainber. The exhaust andintake ports are an on the samei side of the valve shell,; andltaken togetherf may occupy one-half ofthe-circumference' thereof, whereby the following edge" of the exhaustport is diametrically-opposite' froin the leadingedges dime intakeports. Hence said edgesinay simultaneously occupyelos'ed i operation ofthe complementary inner and outer valve-shells; and that} simultaneouslythe nop'eningbf thezi ports fon the opposite positions on line M M,Figure 2; midway of the exhaustand intake ports in the explosionchanber. It will beeun derstood that the closingofah-explosion-chamberported. curs "at the middle 11116 thereof bythe'coside-of the explosion 'charnber "occurat operation of said valve,shells.-

niatieally the operation of coinpleting the losing of the exhaustports"55, 56 in a valve' At Figure 2 there is i-illustrated,diagramv a chestand explosion *chamber, and atthe same 4 time beginning the'opening ofthe opposite intake ports 52%,"54 in the sa1ne;.it being borne in mindthat the closingiis completed and the openin is begun along the middleline MM'ot the chest ports. It Will be the middleline M'M of the chestports The exhaust port 65 in the inner valve shell, which is turning tothe right, is indicated by dotted lines; and it 'xvill-beseen that thisport 65 has 3' ust completed its movement past q said niiddle 'line MMof the chest port.

Hence the following edges of these exhaust I bustion-chamber port 56,andtheichestport 55. In other words, the intake opening-of thecoinposite valve has rapidly contracted and finally olosed up over-theexhaust port 56 offthe explosion cha1nber,at-line MM.

At this time the intake-port 5% of the ex plosion chamber beginsto openinasmuch as the leading edge of the intake .port G l of the rotatinginner valve shell 29 passes said middle lineMM of the port 54, and theleading edge of the intake port 66 (shownby dotted lines) in theoppositely"revolving outer valve shell 30 is just movingtothe left" fromsaid middle linaM Mi ,Hence said leading edges ot the inneraneenter"valves re'cede rapidly from each other over the intake port 54, to openthe sarne.

"In the diagrammatic plan at Figure 5, the line otupstanding valvechests 31 is shown in z section through the fixed lnta-ke'p'orts 53,5 1.Q

The fourchests aremarked A, B, C, D. At:

A the fixed-intake ports 53, 54; are elosed'by the body oftheinnervalveshell 29,that is the portions of the shell which are innne-Idia'tely above and below-"then idw'ay port"- 65 3 Each valve shellmay'tol' some p'ur poses be considered: ascompo'singthree zones, namely,a narroWnppeninletzone, a broad midway exhaust Zone, and a narrowlower-in 7 let zone and each of these-zones is provided Witha port; Ineach of the engine cylii'iders it will beunderstood that the pistons Q-Qare supposed to be about midway of their strokes the piston associatedwith chest A being midway of its explosion stroke.

The piston associated with chest s is a understood to a be about midwayof its corn pressi'onst'roke In 'this the fixed inlet ports r closed,the piston being midway of the exhaust stroke; the order for firingbeing A, B, D, C. p

In chest D all of the intake ports 53, 54:, 64;, 66 are fully open, thepiston being midway of its intake stroke.

Figure 5 also, in a. lower row, shows diagrammatically a plan of thechests A, B, C, D, in section, taken through the exhaust ports 55, 56about midway of the valve chests. In the lower row the valve shells areseen in their identical positions as in the upper row of chests. Theupper row shows the intake ports, and the lower row the exhaust ports ofthe same valve shells and chests. In the lower row it will be seen thatat A, B and D the exhaust ports 55, 56 are closed, while at C theexhaust ports 55, 56 are open; exhaust taking place through chest 0while chest D is taking in a new charge.

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically successive positions of the intake ports(54: and 66in the oppositely revolving inner and outer valve shells orelements 28, 29. .The stationary ported explosion chamber is indicatedby an are 29 ported at the top at 54. Two arcs 28 and 29 indicate theinner and outer valve shells. There are shown successively the positionsof the same valve shells at the beginnings of the piston strokes forintake, compression, explosion and exhaust. In every case the intakeport 54: is closed; said port being shown as about to be opened at thefirst diagram in this figure, and as having just closed in the seconddiagram, and as remaining closed in the last two diagrams.

In Figure 7 the positions of the same revolving valve shells or elementscorrespond with those at Figure 6, except that in Figure 7 the valveelements are shown in the positions that they occupy when the piston ismidway of its respective strokes. The explosion-chamber intake port 54is fully opened in the first diagram, and closed in the remainingdiagrams.

In all of Figures 6 to .9, the same complementary valve shells areshown, Figures 6 and 7 showing the intake ports in said valve shells,and FiguresS and 9 showing the exhaust ports in the same valve shells.Figures 8 and 9 also show the exhaust port 56 in the same explosionchamber 28 that is seen at Figures 6 and 7. Said exhaust port is shownat Figure 8 (which shows positions at the beginnings of the strokes ofthe pis ton) as always closed; the oppositely revolving valve shells 29and 30 having just reached their closing positions is the first diagram,and being just about to open said port 56 in the bottom diagram.

In Figure 9 the positions of the same parts are the same as at Figure 8,except that Figure 9 shows the valve shells midway of the respectivestrokes of the piston; the exhaust port 56 of the explosion chamber 28being fully opened in the bottom diagram, and closed in the remainingdiagrams.

In Figures 6 to 9 the same explosion chamber 28 is shown, and the innervalve shell 29 is understood to be revolving always to the right, andthe outer valve shell 30 always to the left. These figures thereforecorrespond to chests A and C at Figure 5. Figure 1:2 corresponds toFigure (3, except that the outer valve shell 30 is understood to berevolving to the right, while the inner valve shell 29 revolves to theleft; and the same is also true of Figure 13, as compared with Figure 8,so that these Figures 12 and 13 correspond to chests at B and D ofFigure 5, in engines in which the valve shells of one chest are directlygeared to the valve shells in the adjoining chests, as at Figure l. Inother words, the inner and outer complementary valve shells in eachchest may not only be made right and left, as in the perspectives atFigures 14.- and 15, but they may also be right and left as comparedwith the valve shells in the adjoining chests; the four valve shells inthe chests A and B being therefore all dissimilar, but resembling thosein C and D, respectively.

Suitable lag and lead may be provided, if desired, at the beginnings orterminations of various piston strokes in a four-cycle engine, as, forexample, a valve lag may be provided at the intake-valve opening (byshortening ports 64 and 66 at their leading ends) of an extent equal todegrees of motion of the crank shaft, as at Figure 10. This figure alsoshows provision (by lengthening ports 64: and 66 at their followingends) of a valve lag at the closing of the intake stroke of the pistonequal to degrees of crank-shaft motion.

At Figure 11 (which shows the same valve sections as Figure 10), thereis also shown as an illustration a lag at the closing movement of theexhaust port (by lengthening ports and 67 at their following ends) of 10degrees of crank-shaft motion; and there is also shown at this figure anexhaust-port lead at the opening of the exhaust (by lengthening ports(35 and (37 at their leading ends) equal to 30 degrees of thecrank-shaft motion.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with an engine-cylinder, of a head detachably mountedthereon, an explosion-chamber in said head and having intake and exhaustports, valve means fitting around said explosion-chamber, means forcontinuously revolving said valve means, a chest within which said valvemeans is said shells and turning upon said bearing, a driving gear uponsaid hub, and a hearing for the other shell upon said hub.

9. The combination with an engine-cylinder, of an explosion chamberhaving intake and exhaust ports, opposite to each other, ofcomplementary ported shells fitted one within the other to form acomposite valve fitting around said explosion chamber, means forcontinuously revolving said shells in opposite directions, a chestwithin which said composite valve is fitted, said chest having intakeand exhaust ports opposite to each other, the area of the inlet port inthe explosion chamber being substantially equal to the area of itsoutlet port, and one 01" said ports being divided into two equalportions spaced apart so as to occupy difierent zones one above and onebelow the other port, securing balance of gas-pressure.

10. The combination with an engine-cylinder, of an explosion chamberhaving intake and exhaust ports, complementary ported shells fitted onewithin the other to form a composite valve fitting around said explosionchamber, and means for continuously revolving said shells in oppositedirections, the ports being placed substantially in angularjuxtaposition in each valve shell, with its exhaust port immediatelyfollowing its intake port, and the explosion chamber having its intakeand exhaust ports diametrically opposite each other, and one of themdivided into two portions, one portion above and the other below theopposite port, giving pressure-balance.

11. The combination with a set of enginecylinders, of a detachable headtherefor provided with a water-compartment, a series ofexplosion-chambers in said head, each provided with a hollow wallcommunicating with said water-compartment, means for effecting acirculation of water through said water-compartment and the hollow wallsof said chambers, each explosion-chamber having completelypressure-balanced ports, pairs of complementary ported shells fitted onewithin. the other forming composite valves fitting around saidexplosion-chambers, ported chests in said head in which said valves arefitted, and means for continuuosly revolving the shells in oppositedirections in each of said valves.

12. The combination with a set of enginecylinders, of a detachable headtherefor provided with a water-compartment, a series ofexplosion-chambers in said head, each provided with a hollow wallcommunicating with said water-compartment, means for effecting acirculation of water through said water-compartment and the hollow wallsof said chambers, each explosion-chamber having completelypressure-balanced ports, pairs of complementary ported shells fitted onewithin the other forming composite valves fitting around saidexplosion-chambers, ported chests in said head in which said valves arefitted, means for continuously revolving the shells in oppositedirections in each of said valves, and spark-plugs in said detachablehead communicating with the interiors of said explosion-chambers andextending to the exteriors of said detachable head.

13. The combination with a set of enginecylinders, of a detachable headtherefor provided with a water-compartn'ient, a series ofexplosion-chambers in said head, each provided with a hollow wallcomn'iunicating with said water-compartment, means for cfi'ecting acirculation of water through said water-compartment and the hollow wallsof said chambers, each explosion-chamber having an intake-port and anopposite exhaustport, pairs of complementary ported shells fitted onewithin the other forming composite valves fitting around saidexplosionchambers, and means for continuously revolving said shells inopposite directions in each of said valves; one of the ports in eachchamber being divided into upper and lower portions, one of saidportions above and the other of said portions below the opposite port,evenly balancing the gas-pressure upon the inner of said shells.

14. The combination with a set of enginecylinders, of a detachable headtherefor provided with a compartment for cooling fluid, a series ofexplosion-chambers in said head provided with a hollow wallcommunicating with said compartment, means for causing cooling fluid toflow through said compartment'and said hollow walls, eachexplosionchamber having an intake-port and an exhaust-port. said partsopposite each other in said chamber, sets of complementary ported shellsfitted one within the other forming a composite valve fitting aroundsaid explosion-chambers, said ports being completely gas-pressurebalanced, preventing the valves from being subjected to friction duringthe compression and explosion strokes of the engine, and means forcontinuously revolving the shells in opposite directions in each of saidvalves.

15. The combination with a set of enginecylinders, of a detachable headtherefor provided with awater-con1partment, a series ofexplosion-chambers in said head, each provided with a hollow wallcommunicating with said water-compartment, means for effecting acirculation of water through said water-compartment and the hollow wallsof said chambers, each explosion-chamber having completelypressure-balanced ports, pairs of complementary ported shells fitted onewithin the other forming composite valves fitting around saidexplosion-chambers, ported chests in said head in which said valves arefitted, and means for continuously re- Hit c e ts r sin therefr m 1;

cylii cl s' ifa e a h l ne di e r ri videdwith'Lafluid conipartnient,aqsenes -;or x ladenha ers waidahea each" P -J vi ed with" a hollowwallicommunicatin =with said fluid-compartment, means for e fecting acirculation ofcooling fluid through 7 said fluid-com artlnent and'thehollow walls "of said cham ers, each explosion-chamber having completelypressure-balanced intake and exhaust ports, pairs of complementaryported" shells fitted one within the other forming composite valvesfitting around said 7 explosionachambers a row of ported'chests in saidhead inwhich said valves are fitted,

V-said fluid-com artment being inthe' baseit portion of sai engine-head,and said explof sion-chambers and said" chests rising there-.

so i

from, and intake and exhaustmanifolds in ;-tegral with saidrchests, therow of chests extending between said manifolds, means being. providedabovesaid' explosionechambers and ,ichests for-revolving the shells 1 ineach pair inopposite directions.

17.3The. combination with aset tr ngine "cylinders, of a detachableheadtherefor prowater-compartmentand the hollowwalls of 3 said chambers,each exp nh mg completely pressure-balanced ports, pairs of"complementary ported shells fitted one within the other formingcomposite valvesf "fitting around a said explos1on-chambers, port.-

ed chests'in said, head'in which said valves outer shell '50 arefitted,- s'aidshells in the form of turrets, each havinga top'and arelatively small bearing-hub at said top, one hub within the other,means uponthe inner hub to'drive the inner shell, and; means: at thefhubof the tion.

"18, The" combination i an ienginei cylinder, of 'aY hollow-walledported valve- ,seat having acentralexplosion-chamber for 4 saidengine-cylinder, a rotary "valve-shell fitted around said valve-seat,ports in said "valve-seat opening inwardly into said exf lplosion-chamber and outwardly throughthe valve to intake and exhaustconduits, said v valve-seat having inner and outer walls, and

awater-conduit, and means to cause water from said conduit at one end ofthe valve to circulate between said inner and outer walls within saidvalve, and to flow out of f said seat at the same} end of thevalve. '19.The combination with anengine-cylino resited reeti as ii r empartme afport p Q f ai' s am 11%. J; a d said:QXPb Q -Q amber f and Sa tlo lwl atQ ng -"1 'tdintake and exhaust tenants; saidval ve-j t sjeatlhavinginner an outerwal'ls, and-am, f tier-conduit having separated wal lsfroni-"one of which said outer wall ext ends; and' from another. ofwhich said-inner wall extends, I, saidinner Wall protruding beyond theouter wall, and means to cause -waterfrom said to driveit inthe oppositedirecder, of a. hollow-walled, ported valve-seat en i e: y1iade1-,arotary valve-shell ama chamber and outwardly throu h *tlie valve hayinga central eXplos'ion-jchamber{for 1 said o conduit at oneend of thevalve to circulate between said inner and outer walls Within vsaidvalve, and tofiow out of said seat at (the same end of the valve. i

20. The combination with an englne-cylin 'der, of a hollow-walled portedvalve-seat 7 having a central explosion-chamber for saidengine-cylinder, a rotary valve-shelL fitted around said Valve-seat,ports in said valve-' seatopening inwardly into said explosion-- chamberand outwardly throughthe valve to intake and exhaust conduits, the portsbeing on! opposite sides of said seat and the ['uortsarea on one. sidebeing equal'tothatlon 1 theop'posite side and evenlyldistributing thepressure upon the revolving valve to balance the pressure at allportions of the length of the; valve, said valve-seat having inner andouter Walls, and awater-conduit, and means to. cause water from saidconduit at one end of "the valve to circulate between said inner andouter-walls Within said valve, imam 1m 7 V fio'wout'of sa'idaseat at thesame end of the;

21 The Icombinationwith an 'enginej-cylinder, of la hollow-walled portedvalve-seat having a central explosion-chamber for said engine cylinder,a rotary valve-shell fitted around said valve-seat, ports in saidvalveseat opening inwardly into said'explosi'om' chamber and outwardlythrough the valve to'jl V V intake and exhaustconduits, the ports beingon opposite sides of said: seat and the portarea on one side being equalto that on the opposite side and evenly distributing the pressure uponthe revolving valve to balance I 7 thelval've, said valve-seat havinginner and 1 outer walls, and a water-conduiuandmeans the pressure at allportions of thelength of to cause water from said cond uit at one end ofthe valve to circulate between-said inner and" outer walls within said:valve, and to flow out'of said seatat the same end of the valve, saids'eat-porting com rising "a large port upon oneside, and'two ractionalports upon the opposite side pressure-balancing the large port. i

22. The combinationwith an enginecylinder, of a valveeseathavin acentral explosion-chamber and 'porte upon-opposite sides, and arotatable porte valve fitted around said seat ;"one of the ports in saidnot ' fseat being divided into upper and lower 1 portions, one of saidportion-s above and the other below the opposite port, evenly balancingthe gas-pressure upon said valve.

23. The combination with an engine-cylinder, of a valve-seat having acentral explosion-chamber and ported upon opposite sides, and arotatable ported valve fitted around said seat; one of the ports in saidseat being divided into upper and lower portions, one of said portionsabove and the other below the opposite port, evenly balancing thegas-pressure upon said valve, said valve having correspondingly dividedseparate intake and exhaust ports, the ports in said seat being commonto the intake and exhaust ports in the valve.

BURNHAM C. STICKNEY.

